Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Why The Original Willow Was Recast – Screen Rant

Actress Alyson Hannigan portrayed Willow Rosenberg for all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but she wasn't the only person cast in the role. Riff Regan was originally cast as Buffy Summers' best friend for the TV series created by Joss Whedon. Regan only completed the unaired Buffy pilot before the role was recast, leading to Hannigan getting her chance at a breakout role.

Willow attended Sunnydale High with her closest friends, Buffy and Xander. She was a bit of a nerd with a shy personality, which made her a target of bullies at times. Despite the ridicule, Willow retained her upbeat demeanor. Upon learning of Buffy's identity as a Slayer, she helped found the Scooby Gang, often acting as her friend's sidekick. As the series went on, Willow emerged as a powerful witch. In addition, she grew more confident in her own skin and eventually came out as a lesbian.

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Before the official Buffypremiere, "Welcome to the Hellmouth," debuted in March 1997, an unaired Buffypilot was created in 1996. Thetwenty-five-and-a-half-minute pilot followed a similar plot to the broadcast counterpart, but there were a few major differences, including Regan's portrayal as Willow. The pilot was used to pitch the series to networks, but Whedon had been outspoken about not being a fan of the finished product. Those who have seen the low-quality production will instantly notice that Regan didn't seem like a fit for the series. She didn't have chemistry with the rest of the cast, and the character came off as timid. The version of the character never grabbed the attention of the audience in the way Hannigan's Willow managed to, so it was no surprise that the role was recast.

Aside from the role of Principal Flutie, the role of Willow was the only part that required a recast after the series was picked up by The WB. Before Buffy came to fruition, Hanniganhad a few years of acting under her belt. She appeared in the filmMy Stepmother Is an Alien, as well as the showsFree Spirt, Roseanne, Almost Home, and Touched by an Angel. When Hannigan auditioned for Willow, she gave the teenager a sense of innocence and an upbeat attitude. She defined the character differently than Regan, giving Willow a sense of pride, making her eager to help her friends, not burdened by it.

It's no question that Whedon made the right choice in hiring Hannigan to play Willow. The character appeared in all 144 episodes, making her and Buffy the only two characters to do so. Hannigan also gained a loyal fanbase, especially for her part in representing the LGBT community on network TV. The actress reprised her role as Willow for three episodes of Angel, and has voiced the character in several spinoff projects. Regan, on the other hand, retired from acting a few years after exiting from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She has since found opportunities working for a non-profit and working at a start-up in Boston.

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Kara Hedash is a features writer for Screen Rant. From time to time, she dives into the world's most popular franchises but Kara primarily focuses on evergreen topics. The fact that she gets to write about The Office regularly is like a dream come true. Before joining Screen Rant, Kara served as a contributor for Movie Pilot and had work published on The Mary Sue and Reel Honey. After graduating college, writing began as a part-time hobby for Kara but it quickly turned into a career. She loves binging a new series and watching movies ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to hidden indie gems. She also has a soft spot for horror ever since she started watching it at too young of an age. Her favorite Avenger is Thor and her favorite Disney princess is Leia Organa. When Kara's not busy writing, you can find her doing yoga or hanging out with Gritty. Kara can be found on Twitter @thekaraverse.

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